Upside Down - a trauma-informed poem by Bingqian Gao

“Upside Down” was born out of a deeply personal experience - one of corporate injustice and disillusionment. But as I reflected on what I went through, I realised that the darkness of injustice lurks in the shadows of society structures, and mirrored a broader truth about the world we navigate.

This poem draws on the metaphor of freediving, an activity close to my heart. It explores the darkness we face in society, the crushing weight created by relentless greed, the cold indifference of injustice, and the struggle to maintain one’s integrity and light in a world that often feels inverted.

“Upside Down” is my way of making sense of those depths, of finding resilience in the face of darkness, and of emerging stronger, with a clearer understanding of what truly matters.